Alsager and Mr Middlebrook have double cause for celebration

Mr Middlebrook and the staff at Alsager have been selected by the Department for Education for a top national role supporting schools in challenging circumstances. Mr Middlebrook is one
of more than 90 headteachers to be appointed to the role of National Leader of Education (NLE) in the latest recruitment round. NLEs along with staff in their school – designated a National
Support School (NSS) – use their success and professionalism to provide additional leadership capability to try and improve standards in other schools.

Roger Pope, Chair of the National College for Teaching and Leadership, said:

“It’s fantastic that heads like Richard have the passion and ambition to help improve the life chances of young people, not just in their own but in other schools as well. The aim of National Leaders of Education is to drive improvement in underperforming schools. We now have over 1,100 NLEs and we’re working to increase this number further to spread educational excellence everywhere.”

This is in addition to Mr Middlebrook attending the final the Pearson Teaching Awards for 2016
at The Guild Hall in London on October 23rd. The event will be hosted by the actor and
comedian Hugh Dennis and will be broadcast on BBC2 at 6pm on the 30th October.

Back in June of this year, Mr Middlebrook was recognised for his exceptional
contribution to the teaching profession as one of just 52 Silver Teaching Award
winners in the UK, winning his award in the category The Award for Headteacher of
the Year in a Secondary School.

Hugh Dennis said: “I am genuinely proud and honoured to be hosting this year’s
ceremony. The inspiration and support of my fantastic teachers got me to where I
am today, and I look forward to joining in and celebrating other teachers’ incredible
achievements as well.”

Rod Bristow, President of Pearson UK, said: “A huge congratulations to the 2016
Teaching Award winners. Pearson is so proud to sponsor this celebration – Great
teaching makes the biggest difference to a child’s education and it’s incredibly
important that we take this moment each year to recognise that”.